Gas prices

Good afternoon,

Surprised at how much it cost last time you filled up your gas tank? You're not alone. Millions of families and businesses across the country are feeling the pinch of rising gas prices.

Here's the thing: as long as our economy relies on oil and as demand in countries like China and India continues to grow, we'll be subject to these kinds of spikes in gas prices.

We've been down this road before -- just three years ago, gas prices rose to their highest level ever. There was no quick fix to lower prices then, just as there isn't one now.

For decades, politicians here in Washington have talked a lot about the dangers of our dependence on foreign oil, but this talk hasn't always been met with action. And today, Americans pay a price for that inaction every time they fill up their tanks.

Yesterday, we unveiled a Blueprint for a Secure Energy Future that sets a goal of reducing our imports of foreign oil. By 2025 -- a little more than a decade from now -- we will have cut that reliance by one-third.

Learn more about the Blueprint and watch President Obama's speech on energy security:

In his speech yesterday, President Obama outlined his plan to secure our energy future by developing and securing America's energy resources, bringing energy costs down for consumers, and innovating our way to a clean energy future.

Increase domestic energy production. Last year, American oil production reached its highest level since 2003. And, because we can't just drill our way out of this crisis, we're reducing our dependence on oil by increasing fuel efficiency and increasing our production of natural gas and biofuels.

Reduce demand for oil. Transportation is responsible for 70 percent of our petroleum consumption, so one of the quickest and easiest ways to reduce our dependence on foreign oil is to make transportation more efficient.  That's why, in April of last year, the Obama Administration established a groundbreaking national fuel efficiency standard for cars and trucks that will save us 1.8 billion barrels of oil and save consumers thousands of dollars. We're also making investments in electric vehicles and the advanced batteries that power them to ensure that high-quality, fuel-efficient cars and trucks are built right here in America.

Increase production of clean energy. In his State of the Union address, President Obama set a goal that by 2035, 80 percent of our electricity should come from clean energy sources including renewables like wind and solar, nuclear energy, efficient natural gas, and clean coal.

The concepts are straightforward, but the execution will be challenging. In order to make this happen, Republicans and Democrats in Congress must find common ground for a responsible and effective energy policy.

But no matter your views on this issue, I think we can all agree that the United States simply can't afford to leave this challenge for future generations to solve.

Sincerely,

David Plouffe

Senior Advisor to the President

P.S. Check out our new Advise the Advisor video featuring Secretary of Energy Steven Chu and give us your feedback on how we can meet the President's goal of reducing imports of oil by one-third in a little over a decade http://www.WhiteHouse.gov/Advise.

Advise the Advisor: What I’m Hearing About Small Business

Good afternoon,

What's it like to have President Obama drop in on your web chat? Well, on Tuesday, I found out.

During the Winning the Future Forum on Small Business in Cleveland, Ohio, we held an online discussion to go over the answers to discussion questions I posed on WhiteHouse.gov as part of our new "Advise the Advisor" program. The President joined us towards the end to respond to a few ideas.

I've posted some of your ideas, my responses and the video of yesterday's event which you can view at http://www.whitehouse.gov/photos-and-video/video/2011/02/23/president-obama-drops-online-forum-small-business?utm_source=email99&utm_medium=image&utm_campaign=advise.

Did you know that small businesses are the backbone of our economy, creating two out of every three new jobs in America?

President Obama is committed to helping small businesses succeed by making America the best place in the world to do business. He has signed into law 17 new tax cuts for small businesses. He launched the National Wireless Initiative to help bring high-speed wireless Internet access to 98 percent of Americans. And he launched Startup America, an initiative to celebrate, inspire and accelerate high-growth entrepreneurship throughout the nation.

It's also important to take the time to listen to folks on the ground about the challenges they face every day. That's why we went to Cleveland this week to talk directly with small business owners, and it's why your "Advise the Advisor" feedback is so important.

If we out-innovate, out-educate and out-build our global competitors, the future is ours to win. That's a challenge that we will tackle together, and I look forward to the work ahead.

Sincerely,

Austan Goolsbee

Chairman of the Council of Economic Advisers

Advise the Advisor: Austan Goolsbee and Small Business

Advise the Advisor is a new program to help senior staff at the White House stay connected to the American people.

This week, Austan Goolsbee, Chairman of the Council of Economic Advisers, is asking for feedback from small business owners and entrepreneurs about some of the challenges they face. Next week, Austan will travel with President Obama to Cleveland, Ohio for the Winning the Future Forum on Small Business. At the Forum, the President will talk directly with small business owners and leaders about their ideas for how America can continue to grow the economy.  See the video or provide feedback at http://www.whitehouse.gov/advise?utm_source=021711&utm_medium=intro&utm_campaign=daily.

You can add your voice to the conversation by answering one or all of the following questions:

•Entrepreneurship: Entrepreneurship is important in driving innovation and growth. When you first had a new idea for a business how did you convert that idea into a growing business?

•Access to Capital: The President has focused on increasing access to capital and tax breaks for small businesses. What role does access to capital play in your small business, and how can the government help small businesses ensure they can access the financing they need to grow?

•Workforce Development: As different industries in our economy grow, the workforce must adjust. How can government and business work together to better prepare the next generation workforce for the jobs of the future?

•Exports: Promoting U.S. exports is an effective way to grow businesses and create jobs. What obstacles does your business face in exporting goods and services to foreign markets?

•Clean Energy: In the President’s State of the Union he emphasized that an investment in clean energy technology will strengthen our security, protect our planet, and create new jobs. How can your business benefit from opportunities in this growing industry?

Be sure to tune in next Tuesday for a live online discussion from the Forum on Small Business with the President and Austan Goolsbee.

Past Questions

Last week, David Plouffe, Senior Advisor to the President asked for your feedback on how American innovation affects your community and the obstacles to innovation you see where you live.